Chapter Text
Chapter 1
There were rumors, of a sort. Livestock dropping like flies, and dead rats left bloodied in the allies. A demon, hellspawn, whatever you want to call it. There was something lurking in the shadows, underneath the hazy, moonlit nights. He was a priest, albeit not a good one. Nicholas D. Wolfwood, a man who joined the church to hunt for revenge. His sin was beyond forgiveness, but he sought no redemption. In his eyes, he was dead to god. And he found some kind of twisted solace in that. He walked along the cobblestone roads, candle in hand and cross hanging by his heart. The air tonight had felt heavy, and there was something weighing on Wolfwood’s chest. Long lost memories, buried deep within his heart. Reaching to be seen, crying out to be felt. There was no time for this, not now. The stories had led him here tonight, he can’t miss his chance. Not now, not ever.
* Plip plap plip*
First, there was sound.
*Plip plap plip*
Then Wolfwood saw the blood. Small drops turned into pools. He soon came upon a dead rat, puncture wounds in it’s small neck. Something saw him. He lifted up his candle, to see a hazy silhouette pressed up against the brick corner of a wall.
“I know you’re there.” So come out and fight me, he wanted to add. But he knew this was not the man he was looking for. Beasts like these simply don’t feast on rats. There was something off. Soon, the silhouette stepped out of the shadows, revealing himself to be a man. He was tall, with bright yellow hair that stuck out in every direction, save for a few strands forming bangs to the left. The red coat did well to hide the blood on his body, as well as the black gloves. He stared at him, red eyes widened in fear. Blood, staining his lips.
“Then why haven’t you killed me?” The man croaked, voice sounding weak with malnourishment.
“What kind of vampire merely feasts on rats? Are you simply mad?” Wolfwood knew what he was, but he was more so conflicted.
“You have every right not to believe me when I say I have killed no man. End me, if that would satiate you.”
“Why are you so content with death?”
“Why do you ask so many questions? Either let me be on my way or get it done and over with.” He was clearly done with whatever was happening. There was a moment, where they just stared at each other, both equally confused.
“You seem ill.” Wolfwood spoke.
“You seem ill as well. Mentally. Priests don’t merely gawk at a vampire.”
“You said you’ve never had human blood?” Wolfwood felt for him, to say the least. As a child, he too had little to eat. There was something about seeing a living, or in this case, undead being suffer. If he hadn’t killed anyone, did he truly ever do anything wrong. Look at me, feeling for a damn vampire of all things.
“If you have a death wish, I’m not the man to satiate your strange fetishes.” He wiped the blood off of his face with his sleeve.
“I’m not the kind of man to just let someone live to suffer.”
“What do you know about me?”
“That you feast on rats.”
“Fair enough. My name… it’s Vash, by the way.” He averted Wolfwood’s gaze. He almost seemed embarrassed.
“Nicholas D. Wolfwood.”
“Ah, the famous, or infamous on my end, vampire hunter. Say, you’re not trying to trick me, are you?”
“I’m telling you to drink my damn blood because I feel sorry for you.” Wolfwood said, voice flat.
“I don’t drink human blood, although I am happy to be your friend.” Vash said dryly.
“Be my friend then, so long as you help me achieve my goal. I may be a priest, but I am no man of god. If you have not killed, I see no reason to let you suffer. Even a stranger like you, undead in nature, deserves to live a good life.” I didn’t live a good life, either. A passing thought, after the short lecture.
“Well, then. If you absolutely insist…” He looked a little too excited. Wolfwood was almost nervous, but he took the cross off of his neck. And every other little charm made to repel demons and the like, to allow himself to be a meal for the pitiful creature of the night. Vash took off his cloak for him, long bony fingers caressed his neck. It was intimate, being slightly undressed by a stranger. Fear quickly turned into temptation, as they were so close. He could see the beauty mark near his eye, and his long, soft lashes. He went behind him, hand trailing his shoulders. He was almost teasing him. And then he felt the sharp pierce of teeth into his neck. The feeling was invigorating. Adrenaline coursed his draining veins, and it soon turned into ease. He couldn’t help but groan at the sensation, trying to resist making any more sound. He began to feel faint, but his requests to be released were unheard. He then took his palm and whacked Vash straight on the face.
“Ah, apologies.”
“Carried away?”
“Very much so, yes. Human blood is quite filling.”
“Somehow, you look a little less pale.” Wolfwood found himself caressing Vash’s cheek, smiling. “For a vampire, anyways.” Vash gave a small laugh in response, wiping the leftover blood off of Wolfwood’s neck. Helping him put on his cloak.
“Come, we must find you some nourishment. I can’t have my little juice barrel withering on me, now can I?”
“Is it a vampire thing, or do you just get attached to people too easily?” It was meant in jest, however, the response Vash gave was earnest.
“I’ve lived a long time, Wolfwood. People don’t take very kindly to the undead. You may be the first who’s done so much as well, not trying to kill me.”
“Ah, I see.” Wolfwood averted his gaze. “Come, we can reside in my chambers.”
“As you wish.”